Pipe conveyer elevator



Feb. 14, 1939. H, w HAPMAN 2,147,199

PIPE CONVEYER ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l WWW Feb. 14,1939. HWHAPMAN 2,147,199

PIPE GONVEYER ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce PIPE OONVEYER ELEVATOR Henry w. Hapman, Detroit, Mich. Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,640 9 Claims. (01. 198176) My invention relates to conveyer-elevators, and Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line its principal object is to provide a conveying and G of Figure 5. elevating apparatus of the flight type which Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line may be made up from ordinary lengthls of pzpiigg 1-5;! of Figure 5. t u d t and which has therewit in moving e emen s y gure s a ransverse sec on, rawn o a 5 which loose, granular, or pulverulent materials smaller scale, showing details of feeding and dismay be conveyed expeditiously and efiectively in charge hoppers which are particularly adapted a horizontal, vertical, or inclined direction so as for use with my improged appairatui. k u to meet all possible requirements. Figure 9 is a longitu ina sec ion a en on ne '0 Another object of my invention is to provide 9-9 of Figure showing the method of coupling 10 a conveyer in which an endless flexible priopecliling inldividuai section: the propetllgig rgeans and member is built up from a series of s an ar e prov SiOl'l or a ing up s re 0 an wear. lengths, having adjustable coup ings therebe- Figure 10 is a transverse section taken on line tween by which wear and stretch may be easily Illl0 of Figure 9.

takerli) up so that the over-all] eilgth of tllget said giguge 1111s a] 1trsznsiv erse sectgoiiilh dirafwn to a 15 mem er, as wel as the pic 0 e sproc e -enre lice sea 6, 1 is re mg a m e orm 0 gaging elements, is maintained practically concgnivllelytl leril casingt which is ezpecially adapted for stant at all times. 5 a g onzon a runs, an

A further object of my said invention is to Figure 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal secprovide a conveyer-elevator in which the cont OIi 0f the Same take upon the centcrlme.

veying elements or flights are of such resilient Like characters designate corresponding parts character that they can adapt themselves to inthroughout the several views. equalities without excessive strain upon the parts). 2 fftlfiengne lnc e-lpgrt lcularlytfio liiiliires 1 and Another object is to provide a conveyer in w c 0 e rawmgs, esigna es e s a onary pipe the construction at the feeding points is such as te s g is p f y tf fr n Cross 25 to eliminate all chance of choking or jamming sec ion an ma e up rom sec ions 0 commerwithout the use of any special feeding mechaial pipilg, which are gombined witlgesganliiard nism. 4 curves 0 convemen ra 1us so as o m up Another object of my invention is to provide q y and economically Suit all P b ean apparatus of the character described which quirements as regards ocat O f e n d dis- 30 may be manufactured and installed with the iv ihp l sl h th t 1 d least possible amount of labor and laying out n 6 eXamDe S 9 ma e a Is is- Work. charged from a railroad car 2, running on tracks With these and other objects in view, I will now 3 Which p Over a track p l e as ng describe a preferred embodiment of my inven- 5 p s through the w r por on of t e track tion, reference being had to the accompanying il oppen a r ung t l 0111;: alzlfihugwsagds throuigg drawings in whiche ver 1ca r n a o n e curve Figure 1 is'a side elevation illustrating my 1111- gig; glho li 'gd fi l l gfsc h ggi hzgge g ll); proved conveyer-elevator as applied to the hani 40 u of material from railroad cars to Storage means of which material 1s transferred to either bins of the storage bins 5. Ordinarily the discharge Figure 2 is a plan View Of the 2232321 511F132tiltid to ifie iiiitfii tit; Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line the same is full and then successively to the re 25122 2 5; 5 x15; i ggz g g fi i gg maining bins, but in some cases I may provide 45 h f th ppe p p gates upon the various hoppers so that the ma- C 0.1ng O e convgyeri t terial may be discharged selectively into either figure a longltudma'l i of he Same of the bins in the manner well known in the takgn on of Figure A art. The bins 5 will be furnished with discharge Flgure 5 1s a fragmentary longitufimal gates 5| or other controlling means which form drawn to an enlarged scale showmg nopart of the present invention so that it is not tail the construction of the stationary pipeor deemed necessary to describe the sauna From a n d h moving elements r nv yme the run ID the conveyer passes around the horimaterial therealong, the latter being shown in zontal curve W and back through horizontal elevation. runs lG through the descending run lH and so ually within the housing I0 until it reaches the extreme position designated I0".

The track hopper 4 consists essentially of a pair of inclined side members 4| connected by a curved bottom 42 and provided with end partitions 43, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 and'4 of the drawings. The casing I, where it passes through the track hopper, is provided with one or two lateral openings II through which materials discharged from the car 2 are fed into the casing. It will be noted that by this construction the material, entering the casing laterally, is kept in a state of agitation by the passage of the flights or conveying elements l3, which project through the openings II, and so prevented from bridging or arching in the track hopper as would otherwise be the case.

The propelling member of the conveyer, drawn to an enlarged scale in Figures 5, 6 and '7, consists essentially of a wire rope I2, preferably made in standard sections of, say, ten feet in length, carrying at equally spaced intervals flights I3 of rubber or other resilient material. In cases where the material is to be moved in a vertical direction only, the flights I3 may form the sole propelling means. Under other conditions, however, they are reenforced by resilient members I4 formed of spring steel and comprising a central hub portion HI and a series of radial arms I42, the outer ends of which are bent at right angles, as indicated at I43. In this construction, the ends I43 rest upon the interior of the casing so as to prevent the rubber flights I3 from coming in contact therewith and to support the weight of the rope and the flights, so that the friction and wear on horizontal and inclined runs is reduced to a minimum.

In flight conveyers of the type employing wire rope as the propelling means as hitherto constructed, the flights have been independently attached to the rope by various methods, all of which resulted in mutilation or compression of the rope which was liableto failure. According to the present invention the flights are fltted loosely upon the rope and are maintained at their proper distance apart'byspacing sleeves, the arrangement of which will now be described with particular reference to the Figures 5, 9 and 10 of the drawings.

The flights I3, traveling in the direction of the arrow :1: in Figure 5, are held between collars I5 and I6 provided with flanges ISI, ISI, respectively, and when the flight members are reenforced by spring steel members I4, these latter are also held between the collars, the spring steel members being provided with central flanges I44 adapted to rest loosely upon the periphery of, the rope I2. The flanges IBI, through which the driving effort is exerted, may be of any suitable shape adapted to engage the bifurcated teeth of the driving sprocket, the latter having a sufflcient number of teeth to engage each of the said flanges successively. For maintaining the spacing between the flights there are provided loosely fitting sleeves II, the ends of which are of rounded shape, as shown in Figure 5, and the co-acting ends of the members I5 and I8 are similarly rounded, so that the spacing is not affected by the stretch of the rope.

In order to connect the several sections of rope together I provide sleeves of modified form as shown at I8 in Figures 5 and 9, which have externally threaded portions of reduced diameter I8I connected by an internally threaded coupling I9, the adjacent threads being right and left hand respectively. Between the ends of the coupling I9 and the sleeves I8 are provided a plurality of washers 28 which are removed, one or more at a time, when it is desired to take up stretch of the rope. The coupling I9 and the sleeves I8 are provided-with flats, such as indicated at I9I in Figure 10, adapted to be engaged by wrenches, whereby relative rotation of the sleeves and the coupling is obtained. In order to anchor the ends of the rope sections within the sleeves I8, the latter are provided with conical inner surfaces I82 into which the splayed ends of the ropes aresecured by pouring in molten zinc or other metal in the manner well known in the art. The 'bores of the collars I5, I6 and the sleeves Il may be bell-mouthed or tapered in any suitable manner so as to reduce to a minimum the bending and abrasion of the rope when the same is passing around sprockets and curved portions of the conveyer casing. By this construction, together with the rounded ends of the sleeve, it is contemplated that the life'of the rope will be very greatly increased. Further, owing to the loose fitting of the collars I5 and I6 and the sleeves I'I upon the rope, twisting or untwisting of the latter, due to the rotation of the flights and other causes, is avoided. The flights also are capable of adjusting themselves to various positions in relation to the rope when passing around curves, and to rotate upon the rope, so that cutting of channels in the casing by the ends I43 upon the reenforcing members I4 is prevented.

It is regarded as an important feature in the construction above described that the driving force upon the flights and the conveyed material proximate to each section of rope is obtained by a pushing or compressive action between the adjoining collars, so that unusual accuracy is maintained in the pitch of the flights, and the cumulative stretch which occurs in continuous rope conveyers is avoided.

In Figure 8 is shown a transverse section of the pipe or casing I on which is mounted a. feed hopper 2| positioned laterally in relation to the center line of the casing so that the material discharged into the latter is maintained at the level indicated by the line 22, so that choking of the conveyer by excessive feedingis prevented. 23 in the same figure designates a simple form of discharge hopper which would, of course, be separated longitudinally from the feeding hop- Der 2i.

Figures 11 and 12 show diagrammatically a modified form of the-conveyer casing which is particularly adapted for straight horizontal runs. In this case the casing proper, designated 24, is of the open trough type, while the upper return flights are carried upon an arcuate track member 25 supported on transverse brackets 26, the forward and return portions of the conveying element being carried upon sprockets such as 21.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings that I have provided a conveying apparatus which is well adapted for the carrying-out of the objects herelnberore set forth, and while I have herein shown and .described'a preferred form of my inother suitable material, while in the horizontal form of conveyer shown in Figures 11 and 12, flights of cast iron or other metal would bemore desirable, since no resiliency is deemed necessary in this case. The flights also may sometimes be of square or rectangular shape instead of circular as above described, the section of the casing being correspondingly changed. Further, in

cases where my improved conveyer is used to handle materials which contain acids or other substances which would render the use of wire rope undesirable, a chain formed from metal or alloy may be substituted therefor.

In all modifications, however, it will be noted that the propelling resistanceo! the flights is in no case taken up through fastening or gripping of the same upon the flexible driving element, but is carried rearwardly to the nearest coupling member through the. loosely fltting elements therebetween.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A conveyer for transporting material in bull: comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing, and a series 0! flights arranged in' spaced relation therealong, said flights consisting of flat plates formed from rubber or other resilient material provided with reeniorcing members oi spring steel.

2. A conveyer fortransporting material in bulk comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating said casing, and a series of flights arranged in spaced relation therealong, said flights consisting of flat plates formed from rubber or other resilient material provided with reeniorcing members of spring steel having portions projecting beyond the edges or said flights and adapted to guide the same within said casing.

8. A conveyer for transporting material in bulk comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing, and a series or flights arranged in spaced relation therealong, said flights consisting oi flat plates formed from rubber or other resilient material provided with reeni'orcing members oi spring steel having ieet projecting radially beyond the edges of said flights and adapted to guide the same within said 4. A conveyer for transporting material in bul comprising a casing d sposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing and made up from a series of relatively short sections connected by longitudinally adjustable coupling means, and a series or flights arranged loosely along each of said sections and maintained in spaced relation by loosely-fltting sleeves positioned between adjacent flights.

5. A conveyer for transporting material in bulk comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing and made up from a series of relatively short sections having threaded terminal sleeves fixed upon their ends and having co-acting coupling members therebetween, and a series of flights arranged loosely along each of said sections and maintained in equidistant relation by loosely-fitting spacing sleeves positioned between said flights and between said terminal sleeves and their respective adjacent flights.

6. A conveyer for transporting material in bulk comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing and made up from a series of relatively short sections having threaded terminal sleeves fixed upon their ends and having co-acting coupling members therebetween, and a series of flights arranged loosely along each of said sections and maintained in equidistant relation by looselyfltting spacing sleeves positioned between said flights and between said terminal sleeves and their respective adjacent flights, said spacing sleeves having tapering bores larger at their ends than at their centers.

7. A conveyer for transporting material in bulk comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit'and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing and made up from a series of relatively short sections having threaded terminal sleeves flxed upon their ends and having co-acting coupling members therebetween, and a series of flights arranged loosely along each of said sections and maintained in equidistant relation by loosely-fitting spacing sleeves positioned between said flights and between said terminal sleeves and their respective adjacent flights, said spacing sleeves having arcuately tapering bores larger at their ends than at their centers.

8; A conveyer for transporting material in bulk comprising a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, a flexible propelling member operating in said casing, collars disposed in spaced relation and secured upon said member, and a series of flights rotatably carried upon said member and arranged in driving relation with said collars.

A conveyer for transporting material in bulk comrislng a casing disposed in a desired circuit and provided with entry and discharge openings, 9. flexible propelling member operating in said casing made up from a series of relatively short sections connected by longitudinally adjustable coupling means, a series of flights rotatably carried upon said member and arranged in spaced relation therealong intermediate said coupling means, and a series of collars loosely carried upon said member intermediate said flights and said coupling means and adapted to flll the entire space therebetween, whereby the propelling force exerted successively upon the flights is transmitted by compression to the respective adjacent coupllng means.

. HENRY W. HAPMAN. 

